Discovery of a Lifelong Reader's Catalogue
Columbus, Ohio — When Dan Pelzer died in July at 92, his children made a surprising discovery among his belongings: a meticulous record of every book he had read.
Beginning of the Reading Journey
Dan began the list in 1962 while serving in the Peace Corps. Over the next six decades he worked his way through a vast range of authors, from James Michener and Jack Kerouac to Homer.
The Impressive Record
The tally is astonishing. Between 1962 and 2023 he logged 3,599 books. The complete catalogue fills 109 single-spaced pages.
Family's Reflection
"Looking at that list felt like looking at his life in miniature," said his son John. Marci Pelzer added that her father had an insatiable curiosity about people and the world.
Library's Role and Community Response
Most of the books came from the Columbus Metropolitan Library. When staff learned about Dan’s records, they checked every title and created a public list of his reads.
The library posted the list on social media and encouraged others to take inspiration from Dan’s habit of reading widely. The response was immediate.
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